I just read two books back to back that made me realize there is this whole genre of books with a similar form. I have read many of them over the years, but never realized what they were. I decided to call this genre Brilliant Friends books after Elena Ferrante’s magical Neapolitan Quartet and its first book My Brilliant Friend. The stories are all told by an adult woman looking back on an intense high school friendship that was formative, changing their lives in some way or another. The narrator is the more subdued friend, the quiet one, the follower who is remembering the brilliant, defiant, bold, brave and ultimately tragic friend. Tragedy can take many forms, not just death, but always, the narrator ends in a better place than the brilliant friend. Thinking about it, both the books I just read (Marlena and Please Proceed to the Exit) fit that model but not just them. There’s The Girls by Emma Cline, The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel, even All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda, a mystery has the brilliant friend disappear, runaway or murder victim.… Read the rest

Just Because just released the most gorgeous bodysuit ever. The flowers, leaves, and gemstones are all 3D designs and not just a texture and they are gorgeous! You can also texture change each part individually via HUD. Each purchase comes with a solid (shown) and a sheer version of the suit and the flowers are delicately arranged to cover important parts. I am wearing one of the fatpack only exclusive ombre textures. You get 7 exclusive ombre textures with the fatpack purchase. You can find the new bodysuit in the main Just Because store. Exile just released this gorgeous hair at eBento.

Shiny Shabby has a ton of gorgeous this round! You can find my new Kaithleen's dress, Essenz shoes, Kunglers rings, and Lode head accessory at the event. You have until July 15th to shop Shiny Shabby. My cute Doe hair is new at Lootbox. I am still enjoying all the great stuff that was in Powder Pack June. I am wearing the Essences skin, Zibska eyeshadow, and Slackgirl eyes.

I am usually ambivalent about jumpsuits. In my first life, I think they are annoying. They are not particularly flattering and seriously, who wants to almost completely undress every time they go to the restroom? But we don’t pee in SL, so bodysuits are not so ridiculous here.
And when the body suit is this beautifully architectural, then all of a sudden I am down with bodysuits.
The Mirima shoes from Ingenue are not only the right height and color, the lovely curving of the strap give them the same architectural finesse that the bodysuit enjoys. Seriously, look at the ad from Ingenue, look at the bodice of the jumpsuit.
A great updo (Imani) from Truth, wrecking ball earrings from Kunglers, as well as some bracelets and a ring, and subtle, but strong makeup from Glam Affair and I am set for my book review of Here and Gone.
***SHOPPING LIST******
Clothing: -Thalia Heckroth- Bruna jumpsuit (MAITREYA) Fatpack
Shoes: Ingenue :: Madison Booties (Slink) :: Dove
Jewelry: (Kunglers Extra) Wreckingball earrings – Silver
(Kunglers) Luiza ring – Onyx – BENTO
(Kunglers) Rebecca bracelet – Obsidian
Skin: Glam Affair – Kendall ( LeLutka Applier ) America @Collabor88
Hair: TRUTH / Imani
Poses: aDorkable
Appliers: Glam Affair – Kendall ( LeLutka Applier ) America @Collabor88
Mesh Attachments:
.LeLutka.Eyes.Chloe 2.7
.LeLutka.Head.Chloe 2.7
.LeLutka.Teeth.P_1
Maitreya Mesh Body – Bento Hand L V4.1
Slink Avatar Enhancement Feet Deluxe V1.2.5
Slink Hands (Read more...)

I was looking for a quote for my pictures and came across “Keep your face always toward the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you.” It was attributed to Walt Whitman which struck me as bizarre. It does not sound the least bit like Whitman. Whitman wrote things like “Give me the splendid silent sun, with all his beams full-dazzling!” The internet is good for many things, but it’s been a disaster to those who want proper attribution for quotes. Thankfully there are those who are combatting error like The Quote Investigator.
The Arcade has arrived and with June comes sunshine and flowers, not just outdoors, but even on the wall.
I shot these pictures in the small attic bedroom at the top of Scarlet Creative’s romantic Daisy Weathered House at The Arcade. With ivy and moss on the walls and roofs, delicate floral wallpaper and so many gables it would make Nathaniel Hawthorne jealous, this house is everything.
I am wearing a one-shouldered sundress from !Go¡ that has lovely stylized flowers embroidered on the ruffle with tassels.… Read the rest

We are about half way through the May round of Mesh Body Addicts. I am wearing the Narcisse bodysuit, Hucci boots, and Slackgirl eyeshadow that can all be found at the event. You have until May 31st to shop! I am also wearing the wild, untamed Exile hair, Way That I Feel, that you can find at the May round of collabor88.

I am continuing to play with my Powder Pack Catwa May. I still can't believe all the amazing goodies we got this month- 5 skins, wow! I am wearing my third full skin that I have featured, Essences, and the Pink Fuel lipstick. Pink Fuel released a pack of pink and red essential lipsticks and they are gorgeous!

I thought I blogged this a week ago. Oops! First, I have to deal with the quote I used for the title. The internet is a disaster for quote lovers and this is an example of why. Which Helen Thompson? My guess this quote may have come from the wife of the race horse trainer, David Thompson. I am pretty darn sure it did not come from this Helen Thompson and by the way, I am even more sure that fifth quote is also one that belongs to the woman whose life was in racing, not the psychologist studying gender differences who was born in 1874.
I love these sexy booties from Glamistry, though of course, these are functional for walking around pixel barnyards only.
I paired this fun summertime Rodeo shirt from Gizza with a fun, embroidered pair of jeans from Liziaah.
I am loving this Cheri hair from Truth, with one ear free to show off my CAE earrings and necklace. I have had them for a few years now and still love them.
There’s a fragility and delicacy to this Kinga skin for Lelutka from Glam Affair.… Read the rest

faMESHed is five years old this month. A great event that has consistently brought top quality original mesh together all in one place. I am featuring four items that are exclusive new releases at this birthday bash. You can find my Cae jewelry, Essenz shoes, Neve outfit, and Wasabi Pills hair at the event. Hurry on over to the party and I hear there are some gifts for YOU too. If you go now, I might save you a piece of birthday cake!

My great-niece recently rescued a couple horses from a kill pen, the third generation of horse rescuers in my family. Kill pen horses are usually sold for pet food because they are considered problematic, untrainable, vicious and dangerous. They usually require a level of training most people just will not invest. In time, though, they can learn to trust and be trusted. If you want to see the evidence, see my great-grand niece cleaning this rescued horse’s hooves just two weeks into training…and the foundations for a fourth generation of rescuers begins. It was thinking about them, the work they are doing, and that two other nieces are doing, that I thought I might take this month’s house from Barnesworth for Collabor88 and set up a farm. I tinted it, one of the things I love about Barnesworth homes.
I live across the river from Gidge. Her house is in the background. Are you loving this wonderful dress from The Secret Store? I am, I particularly love the prints.… Read the rest

I have a lot of pretty new Spring things on today and I am playing in the flower field. I am wearing a Kaithleen's dress, Essenz shoes, Kunglers jewelry, and Doe hair. A few of these are time sensitive so time to go shopping for your new Spring looks!

I also have some more of my new pretty makeup on that I got from April Powder Pack.

Ooo La La! Is it hot in here? I am featuring two new sexy releases: N-core shoes and Kaithleen's harnessed bodysuit. Both of these items are at Black Fair so if you have not visited yet, make sure to make plans soon! Black Fair closes April 21st.

Blueberry just released the amazingly, slinky sexy Breeanya dress yesterday. This is a showstopper of a dress! If you buy the fatpack, you get a full transparent version (shown) as well as metallic colors. With single colors you can wear the dress Opaque, Semi-transparent, or Sheer. The dress moves really well as I walk and dance as well. Make sure to get over to the main Blueberry store and try a demo on today!

My updo is new by enVOGUE and can be found at the main store and my bracelet and earrings are new by Kunglers at the current round of The Crossroads that opened today.

My cute hair is new by Doe at Lootbox. At first I thought that was a monthly subscription box, but it is not- it is a Gacha event. The name comes from extra "loot" that you get when you get a Rare in the machines. I love Gacha! My cool sandals are also an ultra rare gacha item from Promagic at the current round of Shiny Shabby.

It’s a good think I got this gorgeous rare bed from the DRD gacha at The Arcade because it’s perfect for lazing about and so are some of the new releases from Collabor88OMG, look at how worn this little dress from Hucci is! I am embarrassed to confess that I have one just like this except it’s pale blue. My best friend once told me, “Most people throw their sleepwear away when it has more than three holes in it.” She just does not know how incredibly soft a twenty year old sleep dress can be. And you know what, I wear a sweater with my sleep dress, too. My sweater is way too big and totally soft, too. Mine is teal. I thought about wearing those colors but thought it was just too similar, especially with the bed head.
And flip flops, too! I like flip flops better than slippers which are often too warm. I wear them in the house all the time. I am not one for wearing leg warmers though, but they are gorgeous.
I love this hair from Moon. It’s perfect for the outfit I am wearing.… Read the rest

Henny Youngman once said, “If you’re going to do something tonight that you’ll be sorry for tomorrow morning, sleep late.” It makes me sort of want to see one of his routines. I kind of think this little romper might lead to doing things tonight…so I will sleep late. You can find your own in Birdy’s gacha at The Arcade. Be sure to sleep late.

Coming or going, it’s delightful.
The shoes are from Ingenue and available at The Arcade which opened today.
Can you believe I got the RED hair on the very first pull in Clawtooth’s gacha at The Arcade? I was thrilled. I also was pretty lucky with the Birdy gacha, not getting a pile of duplicates.
The rings are from Yummy and also at The Arcade. I love the intricate details. My skin is Glam Affair’s Chloe made for the new Chloe Bento head from Lelutka. Glam Affair released several eye and lip makeup appliers that are worth a deep dive. They are gorgeous.
****SHOPPING LIST******

So you may wonder why I would title this post, “you better wake up!.” It has nothing to do with the current political climate at all…It has to do with me believing that my outfit is a bit like Sandy’s last outfit in Grease. HAHAHA! Anywho. I found a new store, and it’s great. It’s called Miss Chelsea. I dropped in while doing my regular Fifty Linden Friday route, which as always, is a great little event to find new stores. I cannot stress this enough. FRF is one of those events where you actually GO to the main stores and not only pick up a deal, but get to peek at the stores offerings. Like everyone, I shop events. But I really like checking out main stores too! There were at least 3 new to me stores in Friday’s event, and I love finding new spots to shop. The top and tights are from Miss Chelsea, and the sky high heels are from Breathe. Hair to love is Monso and the fantastic tattoo is White Widow.… Read the rest